Gas burning candle



Ap 1963 R. F. VAN TUBERGEN ETAL 3,

GAS BURNING CANDLE Filed March 15, 1960 34 LII-ll I m Richard F Van Tuber-gen Charles HMueIIer INVENTOR BY {47nd A yo g United States Patent 3,085,413 GAS BURNENG CANDLE Richard F. Van Tubergen and Charles A. Mueller, Santa Fe, N. Mex, assignors to Breese Industries, Inc, Santa Fe, N. Mex a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 15,184 1 Claim. (Cl. 67-87) This invention relates to gas burning candles of the class using particularly as fuels self-prmsurizing cans of compressed gases or low boiling hydrocarbon liquids.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide an ornamental and useful illuminating device simulating a wax candle but providing a flame which may be adjusted to any desired height without smoking or dripping.

It is another important object of the invention to provide a gas burning candle which can be used conveniently with self-pressurizing bottled fuels, which remains cool while burning, which burns uniformly over long operating periods Without the necessity of using elaborate and costly pressure regulating attachments, and which is provided with a positive seal preventing leakage of the pressurized fuel.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specification and claim considered together with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the herein described 0 gas burning candle, completely assembled;

FIG. 2. is a view in elevation of the gas burning candle of H6. 1 but with the shade removed and the body broken away to show the interior construction;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation illustrating particularly the valving mechanism; and

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2 illustrating the construction of stop means associated with the valve control.

The gas burning candle of our invention is provided with a hollow base indicated generally at which is ornamental in appearance, imparts stability to the assembly, and affords easy access to the interior for inserting and removing gas fuel containers as required.

Thus it includes an upper section 12, the lower margin of which is provided with a flange 14 and inwardly directed tab-s 16. These releasably interengage a flange 18 on the upper margin of a lower base section 20. A foot 22 is fixed to the bottom of the latter and rests flat on the table or other supporting surface on which the candle is to be placed.

Candle base 10 is proportioned to receive a commercial self-pressurizing gaseous fuel container 24 of the indicated contour. The neck 26 of the container has an opening in the top which receives a longitudinally perforated stopper or plug 28 made of rubber or other resilient material which renders the stopper self-sealing.

Fuel container 24 is filled with low boiling hydrocarbon fuel, liquified petroleum gases, or other easily vaporized combustible material. As commercially available, it is provided with a dip tube 30, the rimmed upper end of which is seated frictionally in the lower end of the perforation through stopper 28. The tube carries at its lower end a wick 32, the presence of which insures that all of the liquified fuel will be drawn to the burner from the bottom of the container. The dip tube and associated wick are, however, superflous and even undesirable for the present purpose, since we have found that it is impossible to simulate a candle flame when the fuel is used in liquid form, as will appear hereinafter.

[Fixed to the side walls of candle base 10 and extend ing upwardly therefrom are a plurality of spring mounting brackets 34. These grip and support a transparent lamp 3,d85,4l3 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 shade 36 which shields the candle flame'from disturbing air currrents.

The flow of fuel from container 24 and the magnitude of the candle flame are controlled through valve means, the construction of which is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

A valve body 40 is formed with a lower externally threaded section 42, an enlarged waist section 44 having extended radially therefrom a pin 46, an O-ring retaining section 48 of restricted diameter and retaining O-ring 50, an upper threaded section 52, and, at its upper extremity, the seating member 54 of a needle valve assembly. A passageway 56 extends longitudinally through the valve body communicating at its upper end with valve seat 54 and at its lower end with a tubular spur 58 which passes through a recess 60 in the lower portion of the valve body and extends downwardly a substantial distance therefrom.

Recess 60 is of sufiicient extent to accommodate the projecting upper end of stopper 28 sealing ofl" fuel container 26. Spur 58 is dimensioned to penetrate the perforation in the stopper and tap the upper, gas-containing portion of the container.

It is an important feature of our invention that spur 58 is of such restricted length that it does not reach the surface of the liquid in the container. As a result, the burner or nozzle portion of our candle does not have to be preheated with a flame or otherwise as would be the case if liquid fuel were to be employed. In other words, all that is necessary to light the candle is to open the valve and light the gas, since no liquid fuel passes through the burner.

To achieve this result, it is necessary first to dislodge dip tube 30 which normally is present in the fuel container (for purposes unrelated to the present application) and second to provide inlet ports of a character Which prevents any liquid whatsoever from entering the spur.

To this end there is provided an enlarged portion or nub 62 on the terminal portion of spur 58. Whereas the spur necessarily is of rather restricted diameter (in order to penetrate stopper 28), and hence will enter the upper end of dip tube 30, nub 62 has a diameter sufficient to bear against the upper edges of the dip tube as the spur penetrates the stopper. Accordingly, it dislodges the dip tube which thereupon assumes the inoperative position indicated in FIG. 2. As a consequence, spur 58 draws gas rather than liquid from the fuel container.

To insure an even flow of gaseous fuel, unhindered by the presence of even small drops of liquid fuel which might be splashed up onto the spur, radial inlet ports 64 are provided on the sides of the spur, preferably on the sides of nub 62. These communicate with the passageways in the tubular spur and valve body.

The other component of the needle valve assembly comprises a member 66 formed with a longitudinal bore 6?, a base 76 of enlarged diameter (being of slightly greater diameter than waist section 44 of valve body 40), an internally threaded section 72 meshing with threaded section 52, an upper section 74 having an axial opening therethrough communicating with recess 68 but being of restricted diameter, and a hollow tip or nozzle section 76.

O-ring 50 seals off the lower part of recess 68 and the needle valve 78 of the needle valve assembly is pressed into the openings through tip 76 and upper section 74. Needle "alve 78 is formed with a longitudinal passageway 89 which communicates with side ports 82. A locating flange 84 serves to position it correctly Within recess 68.

A tube 86 made of brass or other suitable material seats on tip 76 and receives a lining tube 88 made of glass and terminating at its upper extremity at a plane slightly above that of the upper end of tube 86. Lining tube 88 provides the burner opening. It also serves an insulating function, preventing tube 86 and other elements of the valve assembly from becoming overheated with resultant erratic functioning.

Frictionally supported on the enlarged base 70 of valve member 66 is an outer, candle-shaped casing 90. This member preferably is contoured and colored white to simulate the appearance of a wax candle. Its upper portion is restricted to confine the upper end of tube 86. It terminates slightly below the upper end of glass liner 88, permitting the latter member to perform its insulating function. A circumferential slot 92 is provided at its lower end, being dimensioned to receive pin 46.

To assemble the herein described gas candle, the upper and lower segments of candle base :10 are separated. Nut 94 is removed from the lower threaded section 42 of valve body 40 which then is inserted through the opening in the top of upper section 12 of the base. The nut then is replaced, securing the valve assembly in place.

Next, self-pressurizing fuel container '24 is introduced into section 12 in such a manner that spur 58 and nub 62 penetrate the perforation through resilient stopper 28. As it does so, the lower end of the spur enters tube 30 and nub 62 bears against the top thereof, displacing it to the inoperative position of FIG. 2.

The lower section of housing 10 then is interlocked with the upper section whereupon the candle is ready for lighting. This is accomplished by turning candle base 90, and hence valve member 66 which it frictionally engages, whereby since the valve body 40 is stationary and is in threaded engagement with the valve member 66, the latter will have longitudinal movement relative to the valve body to lift the needle valve 78 off the seat 54. Gas tapped by spur 58 thereupon is released from the top of glassliner tube 88 and may be ignited. The valve member 66 is adjusted by further manipulation of case 90 until the flame has attained the desired height. Lamp shade 36 then is placed in position, concluding the operation. The needle valve 78 may be lowered on its seat by rotation of the case 90 in the other direction.

Thus it will be apparent that by the present invention, we have provided a non-leaking, gas-burning candle assembly which may be adjusted easily to provide a flame of any desired height without dripping or smoking. In addition, it is readily adaptable for use with self-pressurizing liquid fuel containers, even though they are provided with conventional dip tubes.

Also, it provides a candle-like flame over long operating periods without the necessity of frequent valve adjustments, thereby making the candle suitable for use in restaurants, patios, party rooms, etc. as an ornamental source of light.

It isv to be understood that the form of our invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape,

4 size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

A gas burning candle comprising a base having separable uppcr and lower sections, a self-pressurizing container of low boiling combustible liquid, a resilient, selfclosing perforated stopper in the upper end of the container having a portion thereof projecting upwardly above said upper end, a hollow dip tube removably mounted in the lower end of the perforation of the stopper, the dip tube being of less length than the height of the container, a valve body secured to the upper section of the base and having a downwardly opening recess frictionally receiving the upwardly projecting portion of the stopper, the valve body having a passageway opening into the recess and terminating at its upper end in a valve seat, a downwardly projecting hollow spur secured to the valve body in communication with the passageway and adapted to be inserted. through the perforation in the stopper, the spur having an enlarged portion adjacent its lower end, the lateral dimension of the enlarged portion being greater than the interior dimension of the dip tube whereby to displace the latter from the stopper and allow it to fall away from the stopper and the spur upon inserting the latter through the stopper, the length of the spur being sufiicient to penetrate the stopper with the enlargement disposed below the stopper but above the liquid level in the container, the enlargement having at least one inlet port communicating with the hollow interior of the spur and extending substantially normal thereto, a valve member threadedly mounted on the valve body for relative axial adjustment upon rotation thereof, needle valve means on said valve member cooperating with the valve seat to adjust the flow of gas from the container by rotative movement of the valve member, and an upwardly projecting, hollow burner nozzle mounted on the valve member.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS 

